Parents charged after Watertown man accused of sex abuse

A Watertown husband and wife each has been charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after they allowed their 19-year-old son, John J. Kane II, to sexually abuse two girls, ages 9 and 13, at their home, according to Watertown police.

Police said John J. Kane Jr. and his wife, Sheila M., 19235 Route 11, Apt. 111, knowingly allowed the teenager to come into sexual contact with the 9-year-old from March 2007 to May 2009 and the 13-year-old from March 2007 to August 2008. They “did not exercise reasonable diligence in the control of the … victim to prevent the victim from becoming an ‘abused child,’” police said.

The Kanes’ son was charged by city police about 9 a.m. Monday with first- and second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child.

The couple turned themselves in to police at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building. They were issued tickets to appear in City Court.